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Holyoke City Council received good news at the Tuesday, May 21 council meeting as Scott Szabo from Lauer, Szabo & Associates, PC presented the 2012 audit report.

“From a fund balance standpoint, you guys are in really good shape,” Szabo told the council.

Szabo noted that from a financial statement standpoint, there are no concerns at all and that the report was scheduled to be submitted to the state Wednesday, May 22.

The city’s general fund increased by $140,550 over the year to bring the total to $1,150,131.

Assets exceeded liabilities at the end of the 2012 fiscal year by $14,330,472. Of this amount, $6,882,790 may be used to meet the city’s ongoing obligations to citizens and creditors.

Due to an increase in governmental activities of $11,881 and an increase of business-type activities of $716,684, total net assets increased $704,803 in the year.

At the close of 2012, the unreserved fund balance of the general fund was $1,099,343, approximately 60 percent of the total fiscal year general fund expenditures.

GOCO a no-go for baseball field improvement

City clerk/treasurer Kathy Olofson informed board members that Great Outdoors Colorado has rejected the city’s application.

Holyoke was looking to secure $110,000 for improvements to be made at the Holyoke baseball facility.

Out of the 51 applications, GOCO will be funding just eight of the proposed projects. Four of the eight projects are from smaller communities.

The next grant cycle will take place in August with results announced in December. Olofson mentioned that perhaps going after the mini grants might be worth considering as they tend to be less competitive.

City officials report

City Superintendent Mark Brown noted that the citywide cleanup went smoothly, although the city collected a little less than expected. Crews hauled away 43 loads of wood and three compacted loads in the trash truck, down from 54 total loads in 2012.

Holyoke Police Chief Doug Bergstrom reported that from May 2-15, there were 80 calls for service, one arrest, one citation given out, nine reports written and 11 warnings given.

—renewed the option to all elected and appointed officials, specifically municipal judge and city attorney, to join the health and dental insurance group plan, with them paying 100 percent of their monthly premium at any tier of coverage.

—accepted a bid from Nick Ferguson Trucking LLC to haul aggregate at an estimated price of $4,000.

—agreed to a request by Phillips County to expand the bike/pedestrian path north of the fairgrounds.